Police trace weekend shootings to Farmington

FARMINGTON — Farmington police announced Tuesday two shootings reported on Friday appear to be linked to an incident at a residence on Meetinghouse Hill Road.

The police department says they continue to actively investigate circumstances that led to two men – a 21-year-old and a 24-year-old – sustaining gunshot wounds at 316 Meetinghouse Hill Road. One victim was treated at York Hospital in York, Maine, Friday afternoon, for a gunshot wound to the head, before checking out hours later with minor injuries. The other victim was originally treated at Portsmouth Regional Hospital for a gunshot wound to the chest before he was transferred to Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, where he is currently being treated, according to a department press release.

The injuries are considered to be not life threatening at this time and the identities of the men have not been released by authorities.

Farmington police say they were notified of the incident on Saturday around 4 p.m. though the incident occurred on Friday, Jan. 11. Police Chief Kevin Willey confirmed the incident was originally thought to have occurred in Barrington, though he wouldn't say how investigators first received that false information.

Following interviews, it was determined the crime occurred in Farmington and the department then requested assistance from the Strafford County Regional Tactical Operations Unit, which executed a search warrant at the Meetinghouse Hill property early Sunday morning without incident.

Willey noted the man at York Hospital “at this point, is not cooperating” with officers. The Portsmouth Herald reported the man at Portsmouth Regional told officials he was shot while riding a four-wheeler vehicle near power lines in Barrington.

Willey said the next steps in the investigation will include finding witnesses to interview and gathering evidence.

“We're currently investigating and attempting to locate and interview any additional witnesses,” he said. “…There are a number of steps including obtaining and analyzing forensic evidence, witness interviews and then we'll see where the investigation takes us from there.”

Willey noted gun crime in Farmington is not common. The last shooting incident was reported last summer where a Farmington man accidentally killed himself while cleaning a loaded gun and falling down a flight of stairs in his apartment complex. Prior to that, Willey said there was an incident 18 months ago but the crime remains unsolved due to an uncooperative alleged victim in the case.

He said authorities are releasing few details in the current Meetinghouse Hill case and would not say what kind of firearm or ammunition was used at this time.

No suspects are in custody and the investigation is moving forward with assistance from the New Hampshire State Police and the Strafford County Attorney's office, according to Farmington police.

Those with more information are urged to contact Farmington police at 755-2731 ext. 105 for Det. Brian Driscoll or to call the anonymous department Crimeline at 755-9797.